The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has issued a strong warning about the ongoing spread of fake news and disinformation targeting the agency and its services.

According to an official statement, SASSA is forced to counter and correct false information almost daily, much of it deliberately created to mislead the public, incite panic, or raise false hopes among beneficiaries.

The agency emphasised that recent claims suggesting grant payments would be doubled in June are entirely false.

“We appeal to our beneficiaries not to expect any double payment in June, as stated in various fake news reports –particularly those circulating on social media platforms,” the statement read.

SASSA reiterated that grant increases were officially announced in the Ministry of Finance’s policy statement in March. These increases came into effect in April, with another scheduled for October.

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Any other claims of increases not announced by credible and relevant authorities should be treated as misinformation.

“Any announcement not issued through our official channels or government platforms should be regarded as a lie,” stressed Paseka Letsatsi, SASSA’s national spokesperson.

“In addition to the false claims about double payments, another misleading report has been widely circulated, falsely stating that ‘new rules could affect your pension’ from 10 June.”

Some versions of the report even list dates for various provinces, none of which have been issued by SASSA. Clarifying the facts, SASSA confirmed that on April 30, it announced a verification process for a select group of grant beneficiaries as part of the May payment run.

This process is intended to encourage certain individuals to update their information at SASSA offices.

The verification targets beneficiaries who:

* Use alternative forms of identification rather than the standard 13-digit South African ID number
* Have been flagged through the bulk means test process for possibly receiving undisclosed income in other bank accounts

“We urge all beneficiaries to rely solely on information shared through our official social media pages and other verified platforms,” said Letsatsi.

“Before sharing any information related to social grants, verify its authenticity to prevent spreading misinformation that could cause unnecessary anxiety and confusion.”

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